London to John O' Groat's. 



357 



CHAPTEE XVII. 



LOCH LEVJEN ITS ISLAND CASTLE STRATHS PERTH SALMON-BREEDINO 



THOUGHTS ON FISH-FAKMING DUJJKELD BLAIR ATHOLL DUCAL 



TREE-PLANTER STRATHSPEY AND ITS SCENERY THE ROADS 



SCOTCH CATTLE AND SHEEP NIGHT IN A WAYSIDE COTTAGE 



ARRIVAL AT INVERNESS. 



ON Friday, Sept. llth, I left for the north the 

 morning after my arrival in Edinburgh, hoping 

 to finish my long walk before the rainy season com- 

 menced. My old friend and host accompanied me 

 across the Forth, l>y the Grranton Ferry, and walked 

 with me for some distance on the other side ; then 

 bidding me God-speed, he returned to the city. The 

 weather was fine, and the farmers were very busy 

 at work. A vast quantity of grain, especially of oats, 

 was cut and ready for carting ; but little of it had 

 been ricked in consequence of frequent showers. I 

 noticed that they used a diiferent snath for their 

 scythes here from that common in England. It is 

 in two parts, like the handles of a plough, joining 

 a foot or two above the blade. One is shorter than 

 the other, each having a thole. It is a singular con- 



